Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-06-09

stimulus OF these IDEAS new SOutN
seems to be springing up out Of the
ashes of the old. Churches and school
houses appear. The injustice and g-
norance of the past is being swept
away by the advent of Christian thought
and culture. Northern men, money
and brains are going in to occupy the
land. Railroads are being built, mines
opened, factories started, towns and
cities are taking on new life and ac-
tivity, and that once god-forsaken land,
made dc ISOLATE by the vandalism of war
and the injustice of slavery is beginning
to blossom with the fruits of peace aud
liberty.
In my opinion there has never been
I time in this country since the war when
these sentiments and feelings were SO
fully entertained by our people a. 1T
/ the present. The victories won by tho
armies of the Union are being recogniz-
ed more and more the world over as
victories won for God an Il Humanity.
and the Union soldier for his valor aud
for bis fidelity to those eternal princi-
pies of justice and equality Incorporated
by our fathers in this Government of
1 the people. will receive to the latest
generations tho grateful homage nf
mankind.
Comrades, what more can we desire
or expect9 AS for my part | am salts
fed. The world may not accord to vs.
wealth, personal fame or distinction,
4 such as it confers upon the distinguish
ed gentlemen present, whom we do
light to honor. In fact we may have
done little in this great contest. Wewere
only privates in the ranks, like that
Wisconsin soldier that met last sum
mer in California. | said to him Com
rade, where were you during the WARP
He said, ut don't make much differ
ence. didn't amount TO much. on
" fit" Well, comrades, il we only
"ft," we can glory in the fact and re-
joico that we were part Of that grand
army of the Union that struck the
shackles from off the slave and made
liberty and law supreme.
I After the presidents address, Chap
lain Webster offered prayer, and the
entire audience sang the national ode.
The Hon j. w. Blackstone, president
of the village. welcomed the visitors and
was responded to by Col. f. +. Cluugh,
of Ptattevile. Miss Daisy Force, the
''child Of The Iron Brigade" then sang
the ode to the brigade. Speeches were
also made by Phil Cheek and Major
/ Warner.
Gov. Rusk addressed the assemblage,
reviewing the action of the Wisconsin
soldiers in the late war, and advocated
using the surplus in the treasury for
paying pensions to every man who
fought for the Union.
Dinner was served to the veterans by
the ladies of Shullsburg, the governor
and state officers partaking with the
veterans.
After the dinner, Commander Griffin
delivered short address in which no
favored providing for The soldiers The
country, he said, had called for soldiers
and patriotic men bad promptly re-
sponded. Some of them are now in
want, and the country should be as
prompt in aiding them as they were
ready to volunteer when nothing but
the lives of its patriots stood between
the government and ruin. The speaker
referred at some length to the pension
bill, and said that while he conceded
the right of the president to veto it even
on slight pretexts about certain provis-
ions, he did not cOncede the right TO
put in the veto message certain foreign
matter derogatory to the character of
the soldiers. He did not think, how
ever, that general pension law should
be asked for at present. The first duty
of every soldier was to see that all tho
needy were provided for. He referred
TO the work of the Grand Army, which
was just now pplementing its other
good deeds by establishing home for
INDECENT soldiers to pass their final
days in before answering to the roll
call of the Great Commander The or
ganization was also fostering those
exalted sentiments of patriotism which
lie at the foundation and arc tho
strength Of this government; the only
one on earth that maintains its placc
among the nations without standing
army, secure in the valor of its citizens.
At the conclusion of the speeches The
Darlington Rifles and Monroe Ciiy
Guards gave an exhibition drill, and The
Monroe band executed the "Recollrc.
tons of the War" accompanied hy
rattle of muskeiry. Geo. Kimberly
sang "Sherman's March TO the Sea.
The Veteran association chose Platte
vile rs The place for the next reunion.
The officers elected for the state associa-
ton are c. II Baxter, president; A A.
Townsend, vice-prcsident; G. w.
Stevenson, commander G.. G.. Cox,
assistant commander; b. j. Dugdale,
acknowledgements; j. p. Smoker, assist
ant Acknowledgements; e. II. Vance
maker, qr-master gen.; j. NJ. Mehan.
assistant quarter-master general; II y.
Chamberlain, drum-major; j. l.. SpcD-
Ger, assistant drum major.
Don't Forget.